Train-signaling device



W. FRASIER TRAIN SIGNALING DEVICE Nov. 2, 1926. 1,605,339

Filed Feb. 13. 1926 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 dd, 3W

MY/I'am fiasl er INVENTOR Nov. 2 1926. v 1,605,339

' w. FRASIER TRAIN SIGNALING DEVICE Filed Feb- 13. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l9 Mfr I? Z: I I ///illl/// I Patented Nov. 2, 1926.

UNITED S ATES Prs NT orri cs.

W'ILLIAM FRASIEIQ 0E LIME ROCK, ALABAMA ASSIGNOR ONE-THIRD T0 J. M. GENTLE, SR., AND ONE THIRD TO W. W. WILLIAMS, BOTH OF LIME ROCK, ALA- BAMA.

TRAIN-SIGNALING- DEVICE.

Application filed February This invention relates to signaling appara tus, particularly that type designed for use in connection with railroads, and has for its object the provision of a novel automatic signal which will be actuated upon the approach of a train for the purpose of warning pedestrians, motorists and others intending to cross the track that a train is coming so that they may govern themselves accordingly and be saved from injury.

An important and more Vspecificfobject is the provision of a signal device of this character embodying a treadle structure suitably mounted in the trackway and automatically depressed by the wheels of a train, when the train approaches the crossing at a predetermined distance, the movement of the treadle member being communicated to the signal device which is located beside the track at some convenient position.

Another object is the provision of a struc ture of this character embodying spring means which will act torestore the parts to normal position after the train has passed An additional object is the provision of a signaling apparatus whichwill be simple and inexpensive in manufacture, easy to install, positive inaction, efiicient and durable in service, and a general improvement in the art.

lVith the above and other objects and advantages in view, the invention consists in the details of constructionand the arrangement and'combination of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of a ailroad track showing the signaling device mounted in operative position,

Figure 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail cross sectional view taken through the trackway.

Figure 4: is a detail section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a vertical cross section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 3, and

Figure 6 is a detail section taken on the line 6--6 of Figure 5.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the letter A designates a portion of a railroad trackway including the usual rails 1a, 1926. Serial No. 88,097.

B mountedupon the cross ties C. The letter designates a highwayerossing to be protected by means of the signal device forming the subject matter ot the invention.

In carrying out the signal system or apparatus, I provide at a point in advance of the highway crossing, a treadle device in dicated generally by the numeral 10, this treadle device including a curved shoe 11 adapted to be moved vertically by the pressure of the passage of the car wheels E thereover upon the approach of a train. I have shown the mounting tor-this treadle member as comprising an angular plate-lilie bracket structure 12 carrying bolts or studs 13 projecting laterally thereform and passing through vertical elongated slots 141 in the shoe 11 as clearlyindicatedin Figures 5 and 6. Coil springs 15 are provided beneath the shoe member 11 for the purpose of. normally urging it upwardly into potential position and for returning it to its upper position subsequent to depression and atterthe trainhas passed by.

.lvilounted in the tr-ackway, necessarily below the level o1 the railsand extending crosswisefrom one rail to another is a casing 16-within one e'nd'portion of which is jour ,n-aled a shaft 17 equipped at one end with a spur gear 18 meshing with the teeth on a depending rack bar 19 carried by the shoe 11 so that when the shoe is depressed upon the passage of a train the downward move- ,mentof the rack bar 19 will operate to rotate the shaft 17. At its other end, the shaft 17 is equipped with a spurgear 20 .meshing with a similar spur gear 21 upon the end of another shaft 22 which is journaled in the other end portion of the casing 16 and which is provided at its far or other end with a pulley or sprocket 23. Qbviously, the shafts 17 and 22 will move in unison. Any reduction in the gearing necessary may be installed in order to maintain proper action.

The signal device itself may include a supporting vertical post 24 adjacent which is a shorter vertical post 25, upon the latter of which is pivoted, at 26, an elongated signal arm 27 which may carry a lantern 28 of any or preferred type, the lantern being for the purpose of making the signal clearly visibleat night.

or other flexible member 29 connected with the shorter end of the arm 27, trained about a guide pulley 3O beneath said end of the signal arm, and trained over other guide pulleys 31 located at different points, for instance upon the upper end of the post 2a. A ll along the trackway there may be pro-vided other verticle posts 32 which are similar, and mounted upon these posts is a conduit or housing 33 through which the flexible member 29 extends. Obviously, if desired, the conduit instead of being elevated might be located at a lower level as for instance alongside of the track. The other end of the flexible member is trained about and secured to the pulley 23.

In the operation of the device, it will be apparent that when a train approaches the crossing and the wheels of the train pass over the shoe member 11, this shoe member will be depressed so that the rack bar 19 will operate to turn the shaft 17 and consequently the shaft 22 carrying the pulley 23.

This will cause a longitudinal pull to be exerted upon the flexible member 29 and as this member is trained beneath the pulley 30 and connected with the signal arm 27 the signal arm will be swung from its normal inoperative or vertical position into the operative horizontal position as shown in Figure 2, thus giving an efficient signal which will warn all persons that the train is approaching so that they should not cross the trackway and put themselves in danger of injury. After the train has passed by, the spring 15 will act to restore the parts to normal'or operative position.

From the foregoing description and a study of the drawings it will be apparent that I have thus provided a very simply constructed and easily installed signal device which will be absolutely automatic in action and which will be a great safeguard to the public. It is believed that the construction, operation and advantages will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art without further explanation.

Vhile I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it

should be understood that I reserve the right to make such changes in the form, construe tion and arrangement of parts as will not depart from the spirit of the invention, or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described the invention, 1 claim:

1. In a signal device of the character described, a pivotally mounted signal arm mounted adjacent a crossing to be protected, a supporting bracket structure mounted along the trackway at a point remote from and in advance of the crossin a treadle member formed as a depressible shoe slidably mounted at the side of said bracket member and having limited vertical movement, spring means normally urging said shoe upwardly into potential position, a rack bar depending from the shoe member, a transverse shaft carrying a pinion meshing with said rack bar, a pulley operatively driven by said shaft and a flexible member secured to and trained about said pulley, trained over guides and connected with said signal arm.

2. In a signal device of the character described, a pivotally mounted signal arm mounted adjacent a crossing to be protected, a supportirfg racket structure mounted along the trackway at a. point remote from and in advance of the crossing, a treadle member formed as a depressible shoe slidably mountec. at the side of said bracket member and having limited vertical movement, spring means normally urging said shoe upwardly into potential position, a rack bar depending from the shoe member, a transverse sha'lt carrying a pinion meshing with said rack bar, a pulley operatively driven by said shaft and a flexible member secured to and trained about said pulley. trained over guides and connected. with said signal arm, the mounting for the shoe member including horizontally disposed base bolts projecting from the bracket member, the shoe member having elongated vertical slots slidably engaged upon the bolts.

In testimony whereof I afiix mv signature.

WVILLIAM FRASIER. 

